Mark! If you are reading this; please contact me so we can take the impact bumpers of your 1972 911S and convert it back to original.

I personally think the styling of the 911 peaked in the early 1970s. I think the impact bumper cars look like an "okay" attempt to meet standards at the time, but over time they look dated. When you realize all the weight that was added to the car over time, taking away from performance, to add comfort features (power mirrors, power seats, cruise control, etc.) and heavy bumpers and rocker panels, etc. the car starts looking heavy and feeling heavy. Take that **** off and it starts to feel like a different beast. That is why I have done it. To each their own...it's just a machine after all.

The standard 911 has changed emphasis from a sports car to a GT.

Nothing wrong with that. I really like when stepping out of an hour + drive in modern 911 I don't feel cramped or tired.

On the other hand, on a short drive to nowhere it is nice to have the rawness of a light and nimble machine.

It need not be so big to have good car seats.
the Cayman is 200kg and change kg but offers the exact same comfort to the driver.
200 kg for those useless backseats??

And to think the Cayman isn't really a lightweight either..
It's no Lotus Elise mk1


If Porsche hadn't been handicapping the Cayman , the 911 would sell a lot less.

Yes, I have said this before as well. It is a fad that heavily modifies the body into a non-original configuration that is popular right now. But it won't be forever. In the long run that conversion will be worth less than an original car, if all other things are equal. (You can't argue that you'd rather have a restored long hood conversion over a ratty impact bumper car, have to compare a nice conversion with an nice original car).

The 3.6 upgrade was HOT when I started into Porsches in the early 2000s. Don't see that much anymore. The ruf and other smooth light weight bumpers were hot too, already going away as well, in favor of the impact bumpers.

G

Conversions and back dates fall in and out of style. Cool for a while like Members Only jackets in 1980 or Nero jackets for a week in 1969.
Original equipment will always be the most coveted in the long run. Anyone can rat rod a muscle car but all OEM takes time and patience (and MONEY).
I predict that back dates and RSR clones will be passe and eventually worth less than the donor car if left original. That said, buy what you like. I put a 930S steering wheel in my Carrera. Original? No but I thought the stock wheel in 1987 was ugly. (I do have the stock wheel carefully stored away).
OBTW, GH85Carrera: stone guards didn't come on non-turbo cars (but I liked the look so I put them on mine as well).

Tabby often says it here...after 1973, the Porsche Gods rested...

My dad had a late 60's longhood. I remember him taking me to the Porsche dealership back in about '74 and seeing one of those then brand new impact bumper cars. I remember wanting my dad to dump his right there on the spot. The new ones looked SO good to my ten year old eye. I loved the fender flares, compared to my dad's car's slab sides. I loved the red plastic reflector bar across the back end. I loved the deeper dish wheels compared to those on my dad's car.

Truth be told, I still prefer the look of an impact bumper car to a long hood.

and yes, imo, the desire to convert impact bumper cars to fake longhoods will die out.

I predict that no one will be backdating their car to look like a 996 (not that there's anything wrong with them).

Diogenes, extinguish thy lamp! LOL!

Actually, it was a look at the then new '74 cars that began the hunt that resulted in my buying the '72 911S.

As a "backdater", I honestly don't care about the impact on perceived "worth". I drove it for almost 30 years as an impact bumper car, got tired of looking at it that way (and having failing and unsafe systems in it that I didn't use) and changed it. I left the 1980s behind. I hope to drive it another 20 years or more as it is now.

To each their own...it is only a car after all.

I love the early cars. I also love the bellows bumper cars.

It does seem like backdating is happening more and more. I guess it's driven by the desire for the early cars and their prices. I could be just as happy with a bellows bumper car.

Yes

My SC had the rock guards installed pre-delivery by the dealership, so they were original to the car.

Slant nose conversions are pure poseur. Sort of like putting a turbo badge on an NA car. Longhood conversions are not an attempt to falsely convey high performance. They are done for aesthetic reasons..so in a word; no.

Actually you could complete either conversion with OEM parts, and each duplicates a factory 911. So I think it's hard to argue that one is more poseur than the other, as each makes the car into something that it wasn't when it left the factory.

I like hot rods, so I can't say that I object to anyone's vision. I also think a well done backdate looks great. It just seems that today's hot rod 911s are all starting to look a lot alike......

I agree on the parts availability, but my point about falsely conveying enhanced performance is what makes them unlikable - at least in my book.

Have you seen the My RSR thread?... http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technical-forum/952726-my-rsr-build.html

If I was to make a conversion (clone) I'd make a more subtle sort of conversion. Something like a Carrera Club Sport, but even lighter.

72 911T project I've been storing for 10 years converted (in steel) to look like a 74 Carrera back in the 80's.

Move from Seattle to Spokane last year :-)

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1515943021.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1515943021.jpg